Proposal Specialist

Job Posting

Medical Mutual employees must submit their applications through MySource.

Note: This is a hybrid role requiring 3 days per week on-site in our Brooklyn, OH office. Seeking applicants that reside within a 50-mile radius of the Brooklyn, OH office.

Founded in 1934, Medical Mutual is the oldest and one of the largest health insurance companies based in Ohio. We provide peace of mind to more than 1.2 million members through our high-quality health, life, disability, dental, vision and indemnity plans. We offer fully insured and self-funded group coverage, including stop loss, as well as Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and individual plans.

Job Summary

Under supervision of more senior staff/manager, coordinates the development, completion and submission of responses to routine to moderately complex Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Request for Information (RFIs) for competitive bids critical to the retention of current clients, and acquisition of new clients to drive business revenue. Collaborates with internal departments to develop proposal content that is high-quality, accurate and in accordance with RFP/RFI requirements while effectively communicating the family of Company capabilities, policies, products, and services. Supports the development and maintenance of unit policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

Proposal Specialist I

• Coordinates response and packaging of routine to moderately complex RFP/RFIs in accordance with RFP specifications/requirements and Company standards for accuracy and quality. Pre-populates RFPs with standard database content with minimal supervision. May support proposal peer reviews.
• Manages outreach and receipt of information from internal departments for assigned RFPs. Secures and documents all required internal approvals of proposal content with management support. Maintains open communication and provides appropriate guidance to Sales and Service teams regarding technical aspects of the RFP/RFI requirements based on job and company knowledge with management support.
• Contributes to the upkeep of department database of standard responses post-proposal and shares updates with team and Sr. Content Analyst.
• Manages department inbox and basic reporting.
• Supports new and/or updates to department standards and procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Proposal Specialist II

• Coordinates response and packaging of routine to complex RFP/RFIs in accordance with RFP/RFI specifications/requirements and Company standards for accuracy and quality. Assists with proposal peer reviews as needed. Pre-populates RFPs with standard database content with general supervision.
• Maintains and updates contact list for applicable subject matter expert engagement as well as any new or adjusted content needs based on new RFP/RFI questions and/or the various communications within the Company. Notifies team of relevant changes in a timely manner.
• Manages outreach and receipt of information from internal departments. Secures and documents all required internal approvals of proposal content.
• Supports and participates in strategy discussions with sales and service teams and other necessary parties that are led by the proposal leaders. Maintains open communication and provides appropriate guidance to sales and service teams regarding technical aspects of the RFP/RFI requirements based on job and company knowledge.
• Contributes to the upkeep of department processes and database of standard responses.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Senior Proposal Specialist

• Coordinates response and packaging of typically more complex RFPs in accordance with RFP/RFI specifications/requirements and Company standards for accuracy and quality. Pre-populates RFP/RFIs with standard database content.
• Manages outreach and receipt of information from internal departments. Secures and documents all required internal approvals of proposal content. Engages SME when needed to complete new /strategic RFP questions or requests. Manages process for updates into the database and internal unit processes.
• Develops and leads strategy discussion with sales and other necessary parties regarding assigned RFP. Determines agreed on approach to completing RFP/RFI.
• Mentors more junior specialists including peer review of documents, interpretation of RFP/RFI requirements, response direction and problem resolution guidance.
• Partners with and provides appropriate guidance to Sales regarding technical aspects of RFP requirements based on advanced job-specific and company knowledge.
• Contributes to the upkeep of department database of standard to varied responses including supporting and/or coordinating the development of new content/updated content based on new RFP/RFI questions and internal communications regarding changes to new products or services in conjunction with the Sr. Content Analyst.
• Initiates new and/or updates to department standards and procedures while collaborating with team to refine and implement. Maintains knowledge of industry best practices and internal news and communications to support best practices, improved processes and deep understanding of the company and industry.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Proposal Specialist I

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Marketing/Communications or related field.
• Equivalent education and experience directly related to the role may substitute for a degree.
• Experience in business writing, communications, and/or Request for Proposals (RFPs) or similar experience preferred.
• Prior experience in the healthcare industry is a plus.

Professional Certification(s):

• Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) certification a plus.

Technical Skills and Knowledge:

• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Office skills, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams (other collaborative spaces), and professional PDF tools such as Adobe and Kofax.
• Basic proficiency with RFP management software and CRM tools.
• Knowledge of business writing/communication principles including grammar, spelling and sentence structure.
• Basic knowledge of health plan products and services.

Proposal Specialist II

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Marketing/Communications, or related field.
• Equivalent education and experience directly related to the role may substitute for a degree.
• 3 years of experience as a Proposal Specialist or equivalent experience in business writing, communications, and/or Request for Proposals (RFPs).
• Prior experience in the healthcare industry is a plus.

Professional Certification(s):

• Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) certification a plus.

Technical Skills and Knowledge:

• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Office skills, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams (other collaborative spaces), and professional PDF tools such as Adobe Pro or Kofax.
• Intermediate proficiency with RFP management software and CRM tools.
• Strong knowledge of business writing/communication principles including grammar, spelling and sentence structure.
• Strong knowledge of health plan products and services.
• Ability to analyze an RFP, determine optimal response strategy and implement the same.

Senior Proposal Specialist

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Marketing/Communications or related field.
• Equivalent education and experience directly related to the role may substitute for a degree.
• 5 years experience as a Proposal Specialist or equivalent experience in business writing, communications, and/or Request for Proposals(RFPs).
• Prior experience in the healthcare industry is a plus.

Professional Certification(s):

• Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) certification a plus.

Technical Skills and Knowledge:

• Advanced Microsoft office skills, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams (other collaborative spaces), and professional PDF tools such as Adobe Pro and Kofax.
• Significant experience with RFP management software and CRM tools.
• Thorough knowledge of business writing/communication principles including grammar, spelling and sentence structure.
• Strong knowledge of health plan products and services.
• Ability to analyze an RFP, determine optimal response strategy and implement the same.

Medical Mutual is looking to grow our team! We truly value and respect the talents and abilities of all of our employees. That's why we offer an exceptional package that includes:

A Great Place to Work:

• We will provide the equipment you need for this role, including a laptop, monitors, keyboard, mouse and headset.
• Employees have access to on